Compare towns
Eliot vs Nelson vs Springfield vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Eliot | Nelson | Springfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
648Lowest |
1,122 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nelson School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.